Baylink Lab News
August 1st 2023 First year review!
Today marks one full year of the Baylink Lab being in operation. In that time we assembled a functional laboratory, grew from a group of 1 to 7, published our first paper, completed our first research investigation, obtained our first grants, and completed our first in vivo study. We developed a cutting-edge microscopy approach for studying bacterial chemosensing, grew protein crystals and collected diffraction data, and hosted Receptorfest 2023. We overcame -80 thaw emergencies, CO2 incubator malfunctions, broken elevators, and power losses to the building.
It was an amazing year of accomplishments, persistence, and a great foundation to continue to grow our laboratory.
July 7th 2023 First study from the Baylink lab!
Our research implicates bacterial chemotaxis as a mechanism involved in bacteremia and sepsis through driving pathogens to be attracted to sites of bleeding.
Available now on Biorxiv: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.07.548164
Abstract:
Severe bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract instigate GI hemorrhaging that can lead to bacteremia, sepsis, and death. Pathogens preferentially colonize sites of injury, delaying healing and exacerbating tissue damage, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. We find that Enterobacteriaceae species are remarkably sensitive to human serum and perceive femtoliter quantities as a potent attractant. This behavior is driven by chemotaxis and the Tsr chemoreceptor, which recognizes L-serine present in serum. By studying the crystal structure of Salmonella Typhimurium Tsr, we identified a recognition motif for L-serine and found similar Tsr homologues in various Enterobacteriaceae species, including World Health Organization priority pathogens. Our analyses of Escherichia and Citrobacter bacteria, which also possess Tsr, confirm that these species exhibit chemoattraction to serum. We have coined the term ‘vampirism’ to describe this pathogenesis strategy and suggest it plays a role in injury tropism and increases the risk of bacteremia.

June 14th 2023 Intramural grant funded through College of Veterinary Medicine!
We are thankful for an award of $20,000 through WSU and CVM to support our infection model studies of Enterobacteriaceae pathogens.
The outstanding local veterinary and pathology expertise is a huge asset to our research and will serve to strengthen our in vivo studies.

June 13th 2023
A beautiful rendition of our laboratory, courtesy of artist Cameron Coyle.

May 12th 2023 Samira Diaz De Leon selected as a MARC program scholar!
The MARC-WSU program is funded by the National Institutes of Health and provides two years of support for undergraduate students in their junior and senior years
Samira was selected for this prestigious program and will begin in the fall of 2023. Congratulations!
Find out more about the MARC program here.

May 1st 2023 Our chemotaxis review is published!
Our review titled “Bacterial chemotaxis in human diseases” was published in Trends in Microbiology and featured on the cover of the May issue. This review examines the evidence that bacterial chemotaxis plays roles in human infections and how these systems might be targeted with new antibacterial strategies.
Read the article here.

March. 23rd 2023 New group photo!
The Baylink lab got together for the first College of Veterinary Medicine ‘Research Mixer’ and took the opportunity to snap a a new group photo.

March. 10th 2023 Exponential growth!
The Baylink lab welcomes two new members: Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Jyoti Kashyap, and Doctoral Student Andrea Gomez.
Read more about their interests here.

Nov. 22nd 2022
A brief article featuring some highlights of our research interests: https://vetmed.wsu.edu/meet-our-researchers-dr-arden-baylink/

Nov. 8th 2022 -ASM NORTHWEST BRANCH MEETING 2022, GONZAGA UNIVERSITY, SPOKANE, WA
The Baylink lab attended ASM NW, making this meeting the first conference for our new research group. It was terrific to meet our Pacific Northwest microbiologists and learn about all the fascinating and diverse research going on in the region.

Nov. 5th, 2022
Our review article entitled “Bacterial Chemotaxis in Human diseases” was accepted for publication in Trends in Microbiology. Our work was also selected for the cover of the May 2023 issue. Congratulations to first-author Bibi Zhou!

August 1st, 2022
Kailie Franco and Siena Glenn join the Baylink lab as doctoral students. Read more about their interests here.
July 30th, 2022
The Baylink lab is officially in operation!
